Rush was my first favourite band in the mid 70s and they held that position for at least a few years until some point after '78 when I first heard Genesis and then started exploring their back catalogue.
But Rush has stood the test of time, always a top 3 or top 4 band with me.

Subjectively speaking, Rush are in my top 5 bands, but if I want to look things objectively when it comes to the world of rock music, they are not in top 5 all-time greatest bands, but top 15 for sure. I think on a general list of all-time greatest rock bands Rush deserve to be at least 15th.
Rush are undeniably musicallyone of the most quality bands that ever existed. And their music has a big appeal on all people on this forum and a huge number of people outside this forum, but not on every rock fan.
Rush are a BIG band! They paved a good way for their deserved popularity among rock fans. They have a great quality, but it's not everything in the quality. In the world of rock Rush are an influential band, but far from the most influential, they are unique, but not very innovative, they don't have one of the biggest impacts in the history of rock, they are not one of the most important rock bands. But they are one of the most quality, instrumentally skilled, creative and painstaking bands and it's a very good reason why I think they deserve to be on the objective list of Top 15 all-time rock bands.
For example, The Beatles are not even in my top 15 personal fave bands, but looking at many aspects of rock music world they objectively.deserve to be in top 3 all-time greatest rock bands, I have to admit it.

Subjectively speaking, Rush are in my top 5 bands, but if I want to look things objectively when it comes to the world of rock music, they are not in top 5 all-time greatest bands, but top 15 for sure. I think on a general list of all-time greatest rock bands Rush deserve to be at least 15th.
Rush are undeniably musicallyone of the most quality bands that ever existed. And their music has a big appeal on all people on this forum and a huge number of people outside this forum, but not on every rock fan.
Rush are a BIG band! They paved a good way for their deserved popularity among rock fans. They have a great quality, but it's not everything in the quality. In the world of rock Rush are an influential band, but far from the most influential, they are unique, but not very innovative, they don't have one of the biggest impacts in the history of rock, they are not one of the most important rock bands. But they are one of the most quality, instrumentally skilled, creative and painstaking bands and it's a very good reason why I think they deserve to be on the objective list of Top 15 all-time rock bands.
For example, The Beatles are not even in my top 15 personal fave bands, but looking at many aspects of rock music world they objectively.deserve to be in top 3 all-time greatest rock bands, I have to admit it.

There is no objectivity when we're on this topic...unless you're talking about album sales or anything with clearly documented numbers

This doesn't mean I listen to Rush all the time (or even very often anymore!) But I know every note they've played, I collect all sorts of Rush stuff, and have followed them for 35 years. They're the reason I'm a musician. They're the only thing I suppose anyone could say I'm fanatical about. Though at the same time, I can be critical of them - I just very much enjoy all of it; good and bad. It's all interesting.